Cheesy Chicken Roll Ups

INGREDIENTS:
1 package (8oz) fat free cream cheese
1 package (6 count) crescent rolls
2 shredded cooked chicken breasts
1.5 cups of grated cheddar cheese
1 cup of grated Monterey Jack cheese
1 package of Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix
Salt
Pepper
Bread crumbs
Melted Butter

DIRECTIONS:

• Boil the 2 chicken breasts (if frozen boil for approx 40 minutes, if thawed boil for approx 15 minutes). 
• Mix the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, monterey jack cheese, salt, pepper and ranch dip mix into a bowl.  Set aside.
• Pull your crescent rolls apart and lay them on your baking sheet.
• Once the chicken is done, you will need to shred the chicken.  I added the chicken to my Kitchen Aid Mixer with the paddle attachment and it shredded the chicken in no time.
• Add the cheese mixture to the chicken in your mixer and stir well.
• Spoon the chicken and cheese mixture on each crescent roll and roll them up.  Make sure that you surround the entire mixture.
• Brush some butter on the tops of the rolls and sprinkle them with bread crumbs.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

OTHER TIPS:
You can replace the butter and bread crumbs with cheese if you like. 
You can use any dip mix that you prefer or none at all.

CRITIC COMMENTS:
Me:  I am the only one who ate the roll ups because I had a sick husband and I really like them!  They are by no means healthy, but by using fat free cream cheese and skipping the butter it can help.  I did think they were really cheesy and I think I will try to cut some of the cheese out next time.  The best thing about this recipe is that you can really make it your own with the seasonings that you choose to use. 

Gift Basket

We just finished up with wedding season and now we move quickly into baby season. :)  I have three people in my life that are due in the next 6 months, which means I have three shower gifts to purchase.  I don't really mind though, because I love babies and everything that comes with them.  (Disclaimer:  I currently do not have any babies. :) ) 

The first shower that I will be attending is for my best buddies Chrissi and Ryan.  They are making matters hard on me and not finding out the sex of Baby R.  I've tried several times to get her to have the doctor send me an envelope with the information, but it hasn't worked.  C&R are the people who love surprise and I know keeping the sex a secret is exactly what they wanted to do and they are having a blast with it.  I didn't want to get a typical gift off of the registry because C&R are close friends of mine, so I decided on doing a gift basket for them.  I did purchase a few small items off of their registry to add to the basket, but I also made the new baby something.  I think it is a way to show that I took time and really thought about C&R and their friendship to me and I wanted Baby R to be stylish!  I crocheted Baby R a red with black trim diaper cover with a matching red hat.  I added a flower to the hat, but this can be removed if Baby R is a boy. 

If you are interested in purchasing one of these,
please visit the contact tab and send me an e-mail. 

Here is the pattern that I used for the diaper cover from http://livingthecraftlife.blogspot.com/2011/08/newborn-diaper-cover-pattern.html:
I used a Size I-5.5 crochet hook instead of the Size H that is recommended on the website.

Pattern:

Chain 15

Row 1: Dc in 3rd ch from hk. Dc across. Turn. (13 dc)

Rows 2-9: Ch 3, Dc in each ch across. Turn. (13 dc)

Rows 10-13: Ch 3, 2 Dc in same ch, dc across, 3 dc in last ch. Turn.  (Row 12:25 sts)

Row 14-18: Ch 3, 1 Dc in same ch, dc across, 2 dc in last ch. Turn. (Row 18: 39 sts)

Row 19: Ch 7, sl st in 5th ch from hook to form loop, dc in same ch, dc across, 2 dc in last, ch 5, sl st with first ch of ch-5 to form loop. Turn.

Row 20: Ch 3, 1 dc in same ch, dc across, 7 dc in ch-5 loop.

This is where I changed the yarn color and sc around the entire diaper cover to form the black border.

After you have made it to the other ch-5 loop on the other side, 7 dc into the loop and fasten off.

I found that it was better to make the button holes on each side of the cover and attach 2 buttons (one on each side)

 

The nursery for Baby R is being done in red, black and white-so I took it and went with it.  I tried to add some clear paper to give it the feel of a gift basket, but the paper is too light for the bow that I made.  I had to get creative, but I really liked the bow and wanted it to be on the gift basket. 
Here is the final product:

Bring on the next baby gift :)



Magnets

With the holiday season comes holiday cards, and I love to get the cards from all of our family and friends.  This year I wanted to display all of the cards on our refridgerator, but we didn't have any magnets.  I know, I know it's crazy, but I can't bring myself to spend very much on magnets.  So I decided to make some.

Supplies:
Makes approximately 60 magnets

• 1 package of clear gems (you can get these in your floral section, be sure to get the large ones so you can see the paper)
• Scrapbook Paper or Fabric
• Mod Podge
• Foam Brush
• Scissors
• Hot Glue Gun
• Magnets (I got mine from Wal-Mart, but be sure you get a strong hold magnet or they won't be very effective)

1.  Place the gem on the paper and trace along the edge. Repeat this for the number of gems that you want.

2.  Cut the circles out a little smaller than the line you traced.

3.  Apply Mod Podge to the flat side of the gem and adhere the circle that you just cut out (make sure that the design is face down). Let dry.

4.  Apply Mod Podge to the back of the paper. Let dry.

5.  Apply magnet to the back of the gem with a hot glue gun. Let cool.

Ta-da! You now have cute homemade magnets to decorate your refridgerator.  :)

If you are interested in purchasing one of these,
please see the contact tab and send me an email.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone everyone had a great and safe New Year's Eve.  David, Sammy and I sat on our couch and rang in the New Year watching the ball drop. David isn't feeling well so we had a very lazy, yet relaxing day yesterday.  I hope he starts to feel better soon, it's kind of quiet around here. :(  We have a long weekend due to the holiday and I started my long weekend off with taking down all of our Christmas decorations.  It feels really nice to have our house back in order and all of the decorations in storage.  The weather was beautiful yesterday and I took Sammy for a walk around the block, he loves getting to go on walks and I will have to make it one of my New Year's resolutions to take him more.  Other resolutions that I plan to make, start eating healthy again, exercise at least 3 times a week (it's a start :)), and stress less! Wish me luck on these! :)

Hello 2012, let's make this another year to remember!!